Point standings (top 10) following the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, the third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series - 

For Justin Ashley, victory at the Winternationals seems to be a habit he just can’t shake off -- not that he wants to.

Cementing his recent dominance in the early-season competition, Ashley secured his third consecutive win at the historic Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. This time, the final showdown unfolded at Firebird Motorsports Park during qualifying for the NHRA Arizona Nationals, following a two-week delay due to rain.

Regardless of when or where the race takes place, Ashley’s grip on the title remains unyielding, marking yet another impressive milestone in his young racing career.

“Should I even keep doing this?”

That lingering question echoed in the mind of NHRA legend John Force amid a prolonged drought in race victories spanning nearly two years.

With wins becoming scarcer -- a stark contrast to his illustrious career boasting 16 championships and triple-digit race triumphs in his prime, followed by a mere 17 victories over the past decade -- doubt seeped into the 74-year-old’s mind.

As more voices questioned when his next win would arrive, Force found himself grappling with uncertainty. However, when he surged past defending NHRA champion Matt Hagan on Saturday to complete the rain-delayed Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals from two weeks ago, it ignited a spark.

It has been a while since Jeg Coughlin Jr. has been in this position.

Coughlin Jr., a five-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion, had not been a No. 1 qualifier since Phoenix, Ariz., in 2020 – until Saturday.

Coughlin clocked a 6.517-second elapsed time at 210.64 mph in Q3 Saturday to claim the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Arizona Nationals in Phoenix at Firebird Motorsports Park.

Camrie Caruso arrived at Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend, hoping to repeat her 2023 NHRA Arizona Nationals Pro Stock victory Sunday and celebrate her dad Marc’s birthday Saturday. Everything fell into place for her last year as she entered as the newly honored NHRA rookie of the year and earned the first victory of her professional career.

This year, though, everything seemed to go wrong.

J.R. Todd clinched the Funny Car victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, outpacing John Force in the final round at Firebird Motorsports Park during the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.

Tony Schumacher and Erica Enders also secured victories in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

It’s finally finished. The NHRA Winternationals, run in late March in Pomona, CA., was completed in April in Phoenix, AZ. The winner’s circle would have made even the most seasoned Hollywood script pale in comparison. 

Funny Car legend John Force ended a two-year drought with a triumph at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, besting Matt Hagan at Firebird Motorsports Park on Saturday in front of a packed crowd.

Force, the NHRA’s winningest driver, clocked 4.033 seconds at 318.24 mph in his PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, securing his 156th career victory and first since April 2022, marking his eighth Winternationals win.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. was the only new face atop the professional leaderboard at the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix as qualifying closed on Saturday evening. 

Coughlin swiped the No. 1 spot from the six-time world champ during the final session, as the veteran went 6.517 at 210.64 in his Scag Power Equipment car. 

For Austin Prock (Funny Car) and Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), they remained the leaders throughout Saturday's two sessions. 

The momentous No. 1 marked Coughlin's 35th and his first since returning to full-time racing this season. He’ll race Phoenix-area native Matt Hartford in the first round.

Ever since the 2024 drag racing began, Austin Prock has been turning heads as the fill-in driver for the Funny Car driven by Robert Hight.

That continued Friday in Phoenix.

Prock, piloting a John Force Racing Camaro, clocked a 3.840-second time at 334.40 mph to take the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot at the Arizona Nationals on Friday.

NHRA national events are not won on Friday night, but it can definitely set the tone for the weekend.

With that in mind, Steve Torrence made a statement in his family owned Capco Top Fuel dragster at the Arizona Nationals in Phoenix. Torrence clocked a 3.678-second elapsed time at 336.23 mph to take provisional No. 1 spot at Firebird Motorsports Park.